jherbert.sepulchre-第17部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　necklace　with　thinly　beaten　gold　pendants　shaped　like　beech　or　willow　leaves；　stone　statuettes　of　a　bearded　man　and　a　woman；　their　hands　clasped　over　their　chests　as　though　in　prayer；　their　eyes　peculiarly　enlarged　so　that　they　appeared　to　be　staring　in　adoration；　aboard　game　of　some　kind；　its　squares　decorated　with　shell　and　what　appeared　to　be　bone；　two　sets　of　stone　counters　of　different　colour　laid　alongside；　a　silver　cup　with　a　robed　figure　in　relief。　Perhaps　these；　thought　Halloran；　along　with　other　similar　items；　were　a　clue　to　where　Kline's　real　interests　in　art　lay；　for　they　provided　a　consistent　thread；　a　continuity　that　was　missing　in　the　other；　later；　antique　pieces。　It　would　seem　that　his　client　had　a　penchant　for　the　older　civilisations。
　　The　room　allocated　to　Halloran　was　at　the　front　of　the　house；　overlooking　the　lawns　and　lake。　Furnishings　were　functional　rather　than　pleasing　to　the　eye：　wardrobe；　chest　of　drawers；　bedside　cabinet…utility　fare　with　no　heritage　to　boast　of。　The　wide　bed；　with　its　multi…coloured；　lumpy　quilt；　looked　fortable　enough；　bedposts　at　each　corner　rose　inches　above　the　head…　and　foot…boards；　the　wood　itself　of　dark　oak。
　　He　had　unpacked　his　suitcase　before　exploring　the　rest　of　the　building；　and　placed　the　black　case　he'd　also　brought　with　him　on　a　shelf　inside　the　wardrobe。
　　His　inspection　had　taken　him　to　every　section　of　the　house　save　where　the　locked　doors　had　hindered　him…even　out　onto　the　various　turrets　from　where　he　had　surveyed　the　surrounding　slopes　with　considerable　unease。　The　frontage；　with　its　lawns　and　placid　lake；　provided　the　only　point　of　clear　view；　the　rear　and　side　aspects　were　defence　uncertainties。　And　worse：　there　was　no　alarm　system　installed　at　Neath。　It　was　difficult　to　understand　why　a　man　who　was　evidently　in　fear　for　his　own　safety　hadn't　had　his　home　wired　against　intrusion；　particularly　when　his　penthouse　in　the　Magma　building　was　a　place　of　high；　albeit　flawed；　security。　Well　at　least　conditions　here　could　soon　be　rectified。　Halloran　had　wandered　on　through　the　house；　examining　window　and　door　locks；　eventually　being　satisfied　that　entry　would　prove　difficult　for　the　uninvited。
　　Another　surprise　was　that　Neath　had　been　built　around　a　central　courtyard　with　a　disused　fountain；　its　stone　lichen…coated　and　decaying；　the　focal　point。
　　Halloran　walked　along　the　first…floor　corridor　overlooking　the　courtyard　and　made　his　way　downstairs；　quickly　finding　a　door　that　led　outside。　The　house　was　quiet　and　he　realised　he　hadn't　seen　Cora　nor　any　of　the　others　for　over　an　hour。　He　stepped　out　into　the　courtyard；　the　flagstones；　protected　on　all　sides　from　any　cooling　breeze；　shimmered　with　stored　warmth。　Brown　water　stains　streaked　the　lifeless　fountain；　fungus　crusting　much　of　the　deteriorated　stonework；　the　structure　appeared　fossilised；　as　if　it　were　the　aged　and　deposed　remains　of　something　that　had　once　breathed；　something　that　had　once　moved　in　slow　and　tortuous　fashion；　had　perhaps　grown　from　the　soil　beneath　the　flagstones。　He　walked　out　into　the　middle　of　the　courtyard；　circling　the　centre…piece；　but　his　interest　no　longer　on　it。　Instead　he　peered　around　at　the　upper　windows。
　　He　had　felt　eyes　watching　him　an　instinctive　sensing　he　had　e　to　rely　on　as　much　as　seeing　or　hearing。　From　which　window？　No　way　of　telling；　for　now　they　were　all　empty；　as　if　the　watcher　had　stepped　back　from　view。
　　Halloran　lowered　his　gaze。　There　were　one　or　two　doors　at　ground　level　other　than　the　one　he　had　just　used。　No　risk　these；　though；　for　there　was　no　direct　entry　into　the　courtyard　from　outside　the　house。
　　He　crossed　to　the　other　side　of　the　enclosure　and　tried　a　door　there。　It　opened　into　a　kitchen　area；　a　large；　tiled　room　he　had　e　upon　earlier。　Closing　the　door　again；　he　moved　on　to　the　next；　looking　into　windows　as　he　passed。　The　house　might　well　have　been　empty　for　all　the　activity　he　saw　in　there。　The　second　door　opened　into　another　corridor…Neatly　he'd　discovered；　was　a　labyrinth　of　such…which　was　closed　at　one　end　by　yet　another　door。
　　This　was　a　passageway　he　hadn't　discovered　on　his　exploration　of　the　interior　and；　curious；　he　stepped　inside。　To　his　left　was　a　staircase　leading　upwards；　yet　he　could　not　recall　finding　it　when　he　had　circuited　the　first　floor。　Probably　a　staircase　to　one　of　the　rooms　he'd　been　unable　to　enter。　He　decided　to　investigate　that　possibility　after　he'd　tried　the　door　at　the　other　end。
　　He　walked　down　the　passage；　noting　that　the　door　looked　somewhat　more　formidable　than　any　others　inside　the　house。　The　lock　was　of　sturdy　black　iron　and　there　was　no　key　inserted。　He　reached　for　the　handle。
　　And　turned　quickly；　when　he　heard　a　creak　on　the　stairway　behind。
　　One　of　Kline's　Arabs　was　smiling　at　him。　But　just　before　the　smile；　Halloran　had　glimpsed　something　else　in　the　robed　man's　expression。
　　There　had　been　anger　there。　And　apprehension。
　　　
　　　
　　　15　A　STROLLING　MAN
　　
　　He　walked　along　the　pavement　blank…faced；　his　eyes　meeting　no　others；　a　plainly　dressed　man；　suit　as　inconspicuous　as　his　features。　His　hair　was　thin　on　top；　several　long　loose　strands　tapering　behind　indicating　the　slipstream　of　his　passage。　One　hand　was　tucked　into　his　trouser　pocket；　while　the　other　held　a　rolled　newspaper。
　　Occasionally　he　would　glance　into　a　doorway　as　he　went　by；　no　more　than　a　fleeting　look　as　though　having　care　not　to　bump　into　anyone　on　their　way　out。　Not　once　did　he　have　to　slow　his　already　leisurely　pace　though；　his　journey　along　the　street　unimpeded。　On　he　strolled；　perhaps　a　clerk　returning　home　after　the　day's　work　and；　judging　by　his　appearance；　someone　who　lived　in　one　of　the　older　houses　that　hadn't　yet　succumbed　to　developers'　mania　for　wharfside　properties。
　　After　he　had　passed　one　particular　doorway　he　casually　tucked　the　newspaper　under　his　left　arm；　his　pace　even；　still　unhurried。
　　He　walked　on　and　some　way　behind　him　two　men　in　a　parked　car　looked　briefly　at　each　other；　one　of　them　giving　a　sharp　nod。　The　driver　started　the　engine　and　gently　steered　the　vehicle　away　from　the　kerbside。　It　came　to　rest　again　after　only　a　hundred　yards　or　so　further　down　the　street。
　　The　two　men　settled　back　to　watch　and　wait。
　　　
　　　
　　　16　A　DIFFERENT　KLINE
　　
　　Dinner　was　obviously　of　little　interest　to　Kline　later　that　evening。　To　Halloran　he　seemed　drained；　listless；　his　sallow　skin　tight　over　his　cheekbones；　hollowed　beneath　them。　His　dark　eyes　had　lost　much　of　their　lustre；　and　his　usual　banter　was　less　sharp；　as　though　his　thoughts　were　elsewhere。　His　youthfulness　had　unaccountably　vanished；　or　so　it　appeared　to　Halloran；　the　man　before　him　looking　at　least　ten　years　older　than　the　one　he　had　first　been　introduced　to　at　Magma。
　　Maybe　the　incident　earlier　in　the　day　had　taken　more　out　of　Kline　than　Halloran　had　realised。　He'd　witnessed　delayed　reaction　many　times　in　the　past；　had　even　suffered　it　himself…the　abrupt　recognition　of　what　might　have　been；　the　leadening　of　spirit；　the　swift　evaporation　of　energy　followed　inevitably　by　a　further　apathy。　True；　his　client　was　unpredictable；　but　Halloran　was　surprised　at　the　abrupt　change。
　　Only　three　had　sat　for　dinner；　Cora；　Kline　and　himself；　the　two　Jordanians　serving；　Monk　off　somewhere　keeping　watch　or；　more　probably；　reading　his　ic…books。　Kline　load　barely　touched　his　food；　which　was　solid　English　fare　and　not　the　exotic　dishes　Halloran　had　half…expected　the　Arabs　to　prepare　（Khayed　and　Daoud　ran　the　kitchen　as　well　as　the　rest　of　the　estate　for　their　employer；　with　Monk　and　the　Polish　bodyguard；　Palusinski；　sharing　the　task　of　maintenance；　both　inside　and　outside　Neath　itself；　with　apparently　no　outsiders　at　all　allowed　within　the　boundaries）。
　　Opposite　him　at　the　long　and　rough　oak　table　that　could　easily　have　seated　two　dozen；　Cora　tried　dutifully　to　engage　both　Halloran　and　Kline　in　conversation。　But　more　than　once　she　averted　her　eyes　when　Halloran　spoke　directly　to　her。　He　found　her　demeanour　perplexing；　yet　so　were　many　other　aspects　of　this　operation。
　　'You　still　haven't　explained　why　there's　no　alarm　system　inside　the　house；'　he　said　to　Kline；　putting　thoughts　of　Cora　aside　for　the　moment。　'It's　hard　enough　to　understand　why　there's　no　system　around　the　grounds；　let　alone　inside。'　Kline　sipped　wine　and　his　tone　was　dulled　when　he　replied。　'I　have　locks；　I　have　bodyguards。　Why　should　I　need　anything　more？'　Again　that　different　manner　of　speech；　an　older　man's　intonation；　the　words　themselves　more　considered。
　　'I　think　adequate　alarm　protection　will　have　to　be　a　condition　of　contract。'　Lethargy　gave　way　to　irritability。　'The　contract　has　already　been　agreed　and　signed。　You　have　to　take　my　word　for　it　that　I'm　quite　safe　here。　Nothing　can　reach　me　within　these　walls；　nothing　at　all。'
　　'That　isn't　very　sensible。'
　　'Then　consider　me　stupid。　But　remember　who　calls　the　tune。'　Halloran　shook　his　head。　'Shield　does　that　when　we　offer　our　services。　I　want　you　to　understand　that　this　place　is　too　vulnerable。'　The　other　man's　laugh　was　dry。　'I'll　make　a　deal　with　you；　Halloran。　If　you　still　feel　this　way　about　Neath　when　the　weekend　is　through；　we'll　discuss　your　proposals　some　more。　Perhaps　you'll　be　able　to　persuade　me　then。'　Halloran　rested　back　in　his　chair；　suspecting　that　Kline　was　too　arrogant　to　be　swayed　by　reason　alone。　He　looked　over　at　Cora　for　support；　but　again　she　gazed　down　at　her　plate　to　toy　with　her　food。
　　'I　think　we'll　need　more　men　patrolling　the　perimeter；'　he　said　finally。
　　'That's　entirely　up　to　you；'　Kline　replied。　'As　long　as　none　of　them　stray　into　the　grounds。　That　might　prove　unpleasant　for　them。'
　　'You　didn't　tell　me　there　were　dogs　roaming　the　estate。'　Both　Cora　and　Kline　seemed　surprised。
　　'I　saw　one　of　them　earlier　today；'　Halloran　continued。　'Just　how　many　are　there　running　around　loose　out　there？'
　　'Enough　to　see　off　any　intruders；'　answered　Kline；　his　smile　distracted。
　　'I　hope　you're　right。　Let's　talk　about　these　people　who　tried　to　stop　us　today：　you　must　have　some　idea　who　they　were。'
　　'That's　already　been　discussed。　Jealous　rivals　of　Magma；　or　hoodlums　who　want　me　for　my　ransom　value。'
　　'You　knew　you　were　in　danger；　that's　why　Magma